Preparing for a Kidnapping in Somalia

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• published: 26 Oct 2011
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Visit us at http://wanderingtrader.com/ Travel safety in Somalia is something that every tourist must consider before going there. With the exception of Somaliland, a fairly safe autonomous region of the country, traveling to Somalia is ill-advised. Traveling to Somalia is considered highly dangerous, especially for solo travelers. That said, there are some precautions you can take to stay stafe while in Somalia. Perhaps the best way to stay out of trouble during your trip to Somalia is to limit your visit to Somaliland. The autonomous region functions as a de facto country and has a decent political structure. There are also lesser incidences of violence in Somaliland compared to outside its borders. Even so, you should be aware that the United States and United Kingdom still warn against traveling to Somaliland since it is still technically a part of Somalia. Due to these travel warnings, travel safety in Somalia should still be a major concern of yours. Somalia is considered by many foreign governments as a war zone, and therefore a hostile environment for tourism. There is an ongoing conflict between forces of the government and the factions or warlords residing in the country. For more than 20 years, the government still remains unstable. And with a drought currently affecting most of the country, the situation isn't going to get better along with travel safety in Somalia; at least not anytime soon. But if you insist on traveling to Somalia, take into mind the following Somalia travel safety tips: 1. Ask for armed guards. In Somaliland, the de facto goverment requires its tourists to have armed guards accompany them whenever they travel outside of Hargeisa, its capital. Outside of Somaliland and for the rest of Somalia, this is not the case. You could, however, request to be accompanied by armed Somali men for hire. Bringing your own body guards is also advised, in order to stay safe in Somalia. 2. Watch out for signs of insurgency. Be wary of your surroundings at all times. If you see armed men, flee the area as soon as possible. If you hear explosions and gunfire, run and take cover in a safe spot. The insurgents in Somali comprise of members of Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabab and are notorious for attacking areas with high civilian population as well as government buildings. So it would be a good idea to stay away from them too. 3. Be discreet. Whether it is in the way you talk or how you dress, always maintain a low profile. Kidnapping foreign tourists for ransom money are very common in Somalia. The local government has a police force but it's not yet well-established. As such, crime and corruption still soar in the country and it would be best not to rely on local police forces completely in matters of your personal safety in Somalia. The safety problems in Somalia are not limited to the aforementioned. There is also the perceived risk that one might contract infectious diseases by eating the wrong food or drinking their water. The food and water in Somalia is generally safe though, even if water is scarce in the country. Opting for bottled water is still the best choice to avoid any water-borne illnesses. You can also visit my http://thedaytradingacademy.com website to learn how to day trade and travel around the world. This video is also presented by the following websites: http://paramounttravel.com/ http://expertswhospeak.org/ http://southamerica-touristattractions.com/ http://unitedstates-touristattractions.com/ http://podrumradovanovic.com/ http://6x6imagen.com/ http://spgteam.com/ http://camcontemporaneo.com/ http://xxiiencuentrolatinoamericano.com/ http://0p0media.com/